When you’re in need of a good laugh, you can always count on one of these awesome comedy shows. Whether you’re a fan of cartoons, talk shows, reality TV, or sitcoms, we’ve got you covered from all directions.
#1 The Simpsons
Courtesy of FOX
The longest running American sitcom has earned its longevity. It’s hard not to like The Simpsons because it parodies the aspects of our lives that actually need to be infused with humor in order to not be so dull. The animated series depicts the lives of the Simpsons family, which are the embodiment of the American working class, portrayed in the show with satire alongside American culture, society, and other mundane elements.
#2 South Park
Courtesy of Comedy Central
If you don’t mind your humor with a dose of crudeness and darkness, then South Park is the show for you. It’s difficult to not have heard of Comedy Central’s most profitable and longest running series, whose consequent success spanned it over the course of nearly 20 years of air time. Depicting the adventures of four memorable protagonists, South Park parodies a variety of topics and offers audiences numerous iconic recurring characters.
#3 FRIENDS
Courtesy of NBC
If there’s one show that gave us unrealistic friendship expectations, that’s FRIENDS. With all of its actors having moved on to develop fantastic careers, it’s packed with familiar friends and, most importantly, an ideal balance between humor, memorable gags, and emotion.
#4 The Office (U.S.)
Courtesy of NBC
Is there really any way to make office work anything other than boring? Apparently, yes. The Office is a sitcom filmed in the style of a mockumentary, which rids it of the applauds and laugh tracks of traditional sitcoms. With incredibly quirky and unique characters, this production is going to add to your unrealistic friendship expectations with unrealistic job ones.
#5 Family Guy
Courtesy of FOX
Also part of the “American family satire” category, we have Family Guy. Despite the fact it’s drawn towards itself several critiques due to the similarity of its premise to The Simpsons, this animated sitcom has its own story to tell and its own charm. The uniqueness of Stewie and Brian, along with their dynamic, are enough to support the whole series. Fortunately, they don’t need to do that because the other characters are equally astounding. No actual The Simpsons rip-off would be rewarded with three Primetime Emmy awards.
#6 Saturday Night Live
Courtesy of NBC
SNL has become equivalent to variety shows. Running since 1975, it’s been delighting audiences with its comedy sketches and the presence of A-list celebrities that have hosted and partook in the show throughout the years. For decades, it’s been following a particular format that has proven extremely successful, so they’re definitely going to be around for a while longer.
#7 Scrubs
Courtesy of NBC & ABC
In a world where medical dramas dominate primetime TV and continue being released and watched, Scrubs added a humorous twist to the genre that made it stand apart. Like in the case of many other shows of this caliber, Scrubs follows the lives of several interns at the Sacred Heart teaching hospital. It’s safe to say that the series is really far off from being a medical drama. It’s a sitcom whose setting has been chosen specifically to poke fun at the oversaturated market of this particular genre.
#8 Seinfeld
Courtesy of NBC
The reason why sitcoms have been greeted with a boom in popularity in the 90’s was partly because of Seinfeld. The premise of the show sounds simple enough – comedian Jerry Seinfeld lives his everyday life with guest appearances from his close friends. But who said that his everyday life isn’t filled with thrills and strange events? The series gave us memorable characters, catchy quotes, legendary moments, and overall entertainment.
#9 The Daily Show
Courtesy of Comedy Central
Just when we thought it was impossible to turn even more mundane things into beacons of fun and giggles. The Daily Show took your average television news segment and turned it into a product riddled with satire. The host of the show, which changed throughout the years, is the news presenter, who presents to the audiences real-life news stories, told in a humorous and often exaggerated way. He is often joined by news reporters, whose over-the-top behavior and stereotypical personas contrast with the host’s stoicism.
#10 Arrested Development
Courtesy of FOX & Netflix
Having initially premiered in 2003, Arrested Development is a sitcom that follows the difficulties of Michael Bluth, who had to take the family business into his own hands after the death of his father. It’s no easy deed, thanks to his dysfunctional and spoiled family, who constantly disrupt the balance of his life. Despite receiving critical acclaim, the show was met with poor ratings during its original run on FOX. It was canceled but then funded again by Netflix, who started broadcasting the series on its video streaming service.
